Patent application title: POOL FLOAT SUPPORT DEVICE

Abstract:

A support device is disclosed for storage of elongated pool floats
("noodles") or other items having an elongated structure. The support
device includes a body having a plurality of openings along its length.
The openings may be cylindrical in shape having a wider portion within
the body of the support device and a narrower portion at the edge of the
support device. The items are inserted into the openings and held in
place by friction and the narrower portion of the openings. Two support
devices may be used jointly to hold the ends of the items.

Claims:

1. A support device for holding elongated items comprising:a elongated
base of a resilient material having substantially parallel sides along
its length and a front face extending between the parallel sides; andat
least one opening in the front face of the elongated base between the
parallel sides to receive an elongated item, the opening having a first
portion of a first width and a second portion having a second width wider
than the first width, the first portion being closer to the front face
than the second portion.

2. The support device for holding elongated items according to claim 1
wherein the opening has a substantially circular cross section.

3. The support device for holding elongated items according to claim 2
wherein front face intersects a portion of the substantially circular
cross section of the opening.

4. The support device for holding elongated items according to claim 1
wherein the second portion of the opening has a substantially regular
shaped cross section and wherein the first portion of the opening
includes a slot between the second portion and the front face.

5. The support device for holding elongated items according to claim 4
wherein the substantially regular shape is a circle.

6. The support device for holding elongated items according to claim 1
wherein the substantially regular shape is an oval.

7. The support device for holding elongated items according to claim 1
wherein the slot is wider towards the front face than towards second
portion.

8. The support device for holding elongated items according to claim 1
wherein the at least one opening includes a plurality of openings along
the length of the base.

9. The support device for holding elongated items according to claim 1,
wherein the elongated item includes an elongated pool float.

10. A support device for holding elongated items comprising:a first
elongated of a resilient material having substantially parallel sides
along its length and a front face extending between the parallel sides;at
least one opening in the front face of the first elongated base between
the parallel sides to receive a first part of the elongated item, the
opening having a first portion of a first width and a second portion
having a second width wider than the first width, the first portion being
closer to the front face than the second portion;a second elongated base
of a resilient material having substantially parallel sides along its
length and a front face extending between the parallel sides;at least one
opening in the front face of the second elongated base between the
parallel sides to receive a second part of the elongated item separated
from the first part, the opening having a first portion of a first width
and a second portion having a second width wider than the first width,
the first portion being closer to the front face than the second portion;
andwherein the first elongated base and second elongated base are
positioned such that the respective at least one openings are aligned.

11. A support device for holding elongated items comprising:a support
attachable to a surface;at least two extensions extending from the
support which are spaced apart and substantially parallel to each
other;at least one end extending from each of the at least two extensions
towards an adjacent extension; andwherein an elongated item can be
received in the space between the support, extensions and ends.

12. The support device for elongated items according to claim 11 wherein
the space between the support, extensions and ends has a substantially
circular cross section.

13. The support device for elongated items according to claim 11 wherein
the ends are of a resilient material.

14. The support device for elongated items according to claim 11 wherein
the support, extensions and ends are formed as a unified structure of a
single material.

15. The support device for elongated items according to claim 11 wherein
the at least two extensions include at least three extensions such that
at least two spaces exist for receiving elongated items.

[0003]The present invention relates to devices for storage of implements
having a generally straight, elongated handle or body portion. More
particularly, it relates to a device for storing a plurality of such
implements, such as storage of elongated pool floats, so as to be easily
inserted and removed.

[0004]2. Discussion of Related Art

[0005]Elongated, cylindrical floats for use in a pool, commonly called
"noodles", have increased in popularity, particularly with children.
These floats come in various sizes and colors. They are formed of an
expanded plastic or foam. Typically, they have a hole through the central
axis. They are flexible and tend to retain a bend or curvature along
their length. Many accessories have been developed which utilize such
floats. Accessories include seats, supports, and water squirting devices.
However, storage of these floats is difficult. A horizontal box must be
sufficiently long to accommodate the length of the floats. When stored
vertically in a box or cabinet, they tend to bend so that they do not
stay confined.

[0006]U.S. Pat. No. 6,010,105 discloses a device for hanging floats.
However, this requires a support for the device sufficiently high to
accommodate the length of the float. Typically, the floats are longer
than children are tall. Thus, children are unable to reach the device and
cannot store the floats on their own.

[0007]Due to the difficulties in storing long, cylindrical floats, they
typically are left around the pool, or placed on the floor in a house.
The floats can be a hazard to persons trying to move around the pool or
in the room where the floats are stored. Therefore, a need exists for a
device for storing floats which organizes them and can be used by
children.

[0008]A variety of devices have been developed for storing items having an
elongate structures, such as brooms, shovels, wrenches, fishing poles,
and guns. Some such devices hang the items from a bracket. However, the
item requires a wider portion to engage the bracket. Other devices
required movement of parts to secure the items. Other devices do not hold
the items and they can be knocked off the device. None of the known
devices can be adapted to use with pool floats or other items having a
similar elongated structure of a constant diameter.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009]The present invention provides a support device for items having an
elongated handle or body, such as a pool float. According to one aspect
of the invention, the support device includes an opening to receive the
item. The opening includes a wider portion in the body of the support
device and a narrower portion at a front edge of the support device. The
item can be inserted through the narrower portion into the wider portion.
The narrower portion holds the item in place. According to another aspect
of the invention, the support device is formed of a resilient material so
that the narrower portion of the opening flexes when the item is
inserted.

[0010]According to another aspect of the invention, the support device
includes a plurality of parallel openings formed to receive a plurality
of items. According to another aspect of the invention, the opening has a
circular shape which extends past the front edge of the support device.
According to another aspect of the invention, the wider portion of the
opening is completely surrounded by the structure of the support device.
The narrower portion of the opening is formed as slot between the front
edge of the support device and the wider portion of the opening.
According to another aspect of the invention, the sides of the slot are
perpendicular to the front edge of the support device. According to
another aspect of the invention, the sides of the slot are transverse to
the front edge of the support device. According to another aspect of the
invention, the wider portion of the opening has different shapes.

[0011]According to another aspect of the invention, the support device
includes a plurality of spaced apart support devices. According to
another aspect of the invention, the plurality of support devices are
spaced apart horizontally. According to another aspect of the invention,
the support devices are spaced apart vertically.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012]FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a support device according to a
first embodiment of the present invention.

[0013]FIG. 2A is a side view of a portion of the support device of FIG. 1.

[0014]FIG. 2B is a side view of the portion of the support device of FIG.
1 having an item stored therein.

[0015]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a support device according to a
second embodiment of the present invention.

[0016]FIGS. 4A and 4B are side views of portions of a support device
according to embodiments of the present invention.

[0017]FIG. 5 is a front view of a plurality of support devices according
to embodiments of the present invention storing items.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018]A support device 1 according to an embodiment of the present
invention is illustrated in FIG. 1. The support device 1 has particular
use for storing elongated, cylindrical pool floats, or "noodles", but
based upon size and design, can be used to store any items having an
elongated handle or body. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the support device 1
includes a body 10 having substantially rectangular sides. The body 10 of
the support device 1 is elongated, having two ends 11, 12, two sides 13,
14, a front 15 and a back 16. An embodiment of the support device 1 is
approximately 2 inches wide, 3 inches high, and 24 inches long. Of
course, other sizes can easily be used. A plurality of openings 20, 21
are formed in the body 10 of support device 1. According to an
embodiment, the support device includes six openings spaced along its
length which are approximately 2.75 inches in diameter. The shape of the
openings, according to an embodiment of the invention, is illustrated if
FIG. 2A. The openings 20 have a substantially cylindrical shape which is
perpendicular to the sides 13, 14 of the body 10. The cylindrical shape
of the openings 20 are positioned towards the front edge 15 of the body
10 to create an opening along the front edge. The shape and positioning
of the openings forms a wider portion 31 of the opening 20 away from the
front edge 15 of the body 10 and a narrower portion 30 at the front edge.
Although the support device is illustrated as having a plurality of
openings, it may include a single opening, or any number of openings.

[0019]The support device 1 can be formed of any material. Preferably, it
is formed of a resilient material so that the narrower portion 30 of the
openings 20 can flex to receive the items. The material used and the
amount of resiliency will depend upon the items for which the support
device is intended. Pool floats are flexible and can be compressed when
inserting the float through the narrower portion 30 of the opening 20.
For other items which are less flexible, a more flexible material may be
needed for the support device. The support device 1 may be formed of a
plastic material, either foam or rigid. It may be formed of a rubber or
other flexible material.

[0020]FIG. 2B illustrates the use of the support device 1 with a pool
float 50 or other item. The wider portion 31 of the opening 20 is sized
and shaped to fit the cross section of the pool float 50. When inserted,
the pool float 50 fits within the wider portion 31 of the opening 20. The
narrower portion 30 of the opening 20 extends in front of a portion of
the pool float 50. A portion of the pool float further extends beyond the
front edge of the support device. The pool float is retained in position
by friction with the sides of the opening. FIG. 2B illustrates a pool
float 50 of substantially the same size and shape as the opening 20.
Depending upon the configuration of the opening 20 and the materials
used, the support device 1 may accommodate items having various shapes
and diameters. Some items may be less tightly held than other items. The
support device may include openings of different sizes for holding items
of different diameters.

[0021]The support device 1 and the openings 20 can have various shapes and
structures depending upon the desired needs. FIG. 3 illustrates another
embodiment of a support device 2. In this embodiment, the body 100 of the
support device includes two rounded ends 110, 120. The openings 200, 210
are illustrated in FIG. 4A. In this embodiment, the openings 200 are also
cylindrical in shape, but are completely enclosed by the body 100 of the
support device. A slot is formed between the cylindrical opening 200 and
the front edge 150 of the support device. With the slot, the opening 200
still has a wider portion 310 and a narrower portion 300, to retain the
item in position. The slot may have angled sides 305. The embodiment
illustrated in FIG. 4A includes sharp corners at the edges of the slots.
Of course, any corner may be rounded rather than sharp.

[0022]FIG. 4B illustrates another embodiment for the openings 200'. In
this embodiment, the opening 200' is oval in cross section. A slot 302
has sides perpendicular to the front edge 150 of the support device. Of
course, any shape or design may be used.

[0023]FIG. 5 illustrates the use of the support device 1 to hold pool
floats 50, 51 or other items. Preferably, two support devices 1, 1' are
spaced apart to hold the ends of the pool floats 50, 51. FIG. 5
illustrates the two support devices being spaced apart to hold the pool
floats horizontally. They may also be spaced apart to hold the pool
floats vertically. A single support device may be used. It could be
positioned in the middle of the pool floats, or could be positioned to
hold one end of the pool floats with the other end being supported on the
ground. The support devices 1, 1' can be attached to a fixed surface,
such as a wall, fence, or side of an above-ground pool. They may be
attached to the side or top of a pool box holding other items.
Preferably, the support devices are attached to a vertical surface, but
may be used on a horizontal surface. The support devices may be attached
to the surface with nails, screws, glue, double sided tape, ties, or
Velcro®. The support devices may be removably or permanently attached
to the fixed surface.

[0024]Having disclosed at least one embodiment of the present invention,
various adaptations, modifications, additions, and improvements will be
readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. Such adaptations,
modifications, additions and improvements are considered part of the
invention which is only limited by the several claims attached hereto.